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Green, circular, bio economy : A comparative analysis of sustainability avenues

D'amato, D. ; Droste, N. LU orcid ; Allen, B. ; Kettunen, M. ; Lähtinen, K. ; Korhonen, J. ; Leskinen, Pekka ; Matthies, B.d. and Toppinen, A. (2017) In Journal of Cleaner Production 168. p.716-734
Abstract
Despite their evidently different assumptions and operationalization strategies, the concepts of Circular Economy, Green Economy and Bioeconomy are joined by the common ideal to reconcile economic, environmental and social goals. The three concepts are currently mainstreamed in academia and policy making as key sustainability avenues, but a comparative analysis of such concepts is missing. The aim of this article is thus to comprehensively analyse the diversity within and between such concepts. The results are drawn from a bibliometric review of almost two thousand scientific articles published within the last three decades, coupled with a conceptual analysis. We find that, for what concerns environmental sustainability, Green Economy acts... (More)
Despite their evidently different assumptions and operationalization strategies, the concepts of Circular Economy, Green Economy and Bioeconomy are joined by the common ideal to reconcile economic, environmental and social goals. The three concepts are currently mainstreamed in academia and policy making as key sustainability avenues, but a comparative analysis of such concepts is missing. The aim of this article is thus to comprehensively analyse the diversity within and between such concepts. The results are drawn from a bibliometric review of almost two thousand scientific articles published within the last three decades, coupled with a conceptual analysis. We find that, for what concerns environmental sustainability, Green Economy acts as an ‘umbrella’ concept, including elements from Circular Economy and Bioeconomy concepts (e.g. eco-efficiency; renewables), as well as additional ideas, e.g. nature-based solutions. In particular, Circular Economy and Bioeconomy are resource-focused, whereas in principle Green Economy acknowledges the underpinning role of all ecological processes. Regarding the social dimension, Green Economy is more inclusive of some aspects at local level (e.g. eco-tourism, education), while there is an emerging discussion in Bioeconomy literature around local processes in terms of biosecurity and rural policies. When considering weak/strong sustainability visions, all concepts remain limited in questioning economic growth. By comparing the different sustainability strategies promoted by these concepts we do not advocate for their substitutability, but for their clarification and reciprocal integration. The findings are discussed in light of the concepts' synergies and limits, with the purpose to inform research and policy implementation. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Journal of Cleaner Production
volume
168
pages
716 - 734
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85030721949
ISSN
0959-6526
DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.053
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
dc8aea13-f030-4be1-b1a9-38e1fb8afb60
date added to LUP
2019-05-20 11:41:48
date last changed
2022-04-25 23:54:49
@article{dc8aea13-f030-4be1-b1a9-38e1fb8afb60,
  abstract     = {{Despite their evidently different assumptions and operationalization strategies, the concepts of Circular Economy, Green Economy and Bioeconomy are joined by the common ideal to reconcile economic, environmental and social goals. The three concepts are currently mainstreamed in academia and policy making as key sustainability avenues, but a comparative analysis of such concepts is missing. The aim of this article is thus to comprehensively analyse the diversity within and between such concepts. The results are drawn from a bibliometric review of almost two thousand scientific articles published within the last three decades, coupled with a conceptual analysis. We find that, for what concerns environmental sustainability, Green Economy acts as an ‘umbrella’ concept, including elements from Circular Economy and Bioeconomy concepts (e.g. eco-efficiency; renewables), as well as additional ideas, e.g. nature-based solutions. In particular, Circular Economy and Bioeconomy are resource-focused, whereas in principle Green Economy acknowledges the underpinning role of all ecological processes. Regarding the social dimension, Green Economy is more inclusive of some aspects at local level (e.g. eco-tourism, education), while there is an emerging discussion in Bioeconomy literature around local processes in terms of biosecurity and rural policies. When considering weak/strong sustainability visions, all concepts remain limited in questioning economic growth. By comparing the different sustainability strategies promoted by these concepts we do not advocate for their substitutability, but for their clarification and reciprocal integration. The findings are discussed in light of the concepts' synergies and limits, with the purpose to inform research and policy implementation.}},
  author       = {{D'amato, D. and Droste, N. and Allen, B. and Kettunen, M. and Lähtinen, K. and Korhonen, J. and Leskinen, Pekka and Matthies, B.d. and Toppinen, A.}},
  issn         = {{0959-6526}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{716--734}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Cleaner Production}},
  title        = {{Green, circular, bio economy : A comparative analysis of sustainability avenues}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.053}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.053}},
  volume       = {{168}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}